Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog

February 2015

Free thermostat from the city? What’s the catch?

If you live in the city of Fort Collins you probably have received an offer for a free thermostat! Seems pretty cool, it even gives you access through the internet! You might be thinking why would they do this, and what’s the catch?

Well here is the truth. The power companies have a hard time supplying enough power to everyone during peak demand times. This usually happens during really hot afternoons during the summertime when every business and most every home is running air conditioning.   By accepting the thermostat offer you are also agreeing to allow the city to turn off your air conditioner for periods during these times… when you need it most!

If you want a free internet accessible thermostat with strings attached this thermostat may be for you. But if you don’t want someone else adjusting your thermostat or turning it off when you need it, I highly suggest you don’t take this offer.

The thermostat may not work with every type of system either. Call a Heating and Air Conditioning expert or contractor to decide if this is offer is right for you.

Sometimes these offers (like the energy “saver switch” offered in the past by utility companies) give the impression that you will save energy by accepting the offer. Not true. The utility company saves, you do NOT. You see an air conditioner has to run for at least 10 minutes before it reaches its maximum steady state of efficiency. The longer the cycle, the more efficient it will be. So if your AC is properly sized for maximum efficiency it will need to run almost nonstop on days above 91 degrees which is when the utility company will likely want to cycle your AC off on their terms.  If your air conditioner is very oversized and can bring down the temperature quickly in your home than this offer may not be a bad idea for volunteering to help the utility company manage their delivery.

At Fort Collins Heating and Air Conditioning we recommend that you do NOT choose this method for attempting to save energy. Instead have your Air Conditioner properly tuned and adjusted by having an ultimate tune up performed. Have an evaluation done on your system to see if it is properly sized and designed. Program your thermostat to maintain a comfortable desired temperature starting in the morning, even if you’re not home. This may seem opposite of what you may think but it is cheaper to maintain the lower temperature all day during milder temperatures than to try and achieve it and catch up during the hottest part of the day.

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Valentine’s Day in Loveland, CO: The Sweetheart City

Valentine’s Day is a time to spend with the people who mean the most to you, but these people don’t always live as close by as you’d wish. So for many long-distance friends, family members, or sweethearts, receiving a handmade card in the mail is the next best thing, a thoughtful gift that makes the recipient feel a little bit closer to the sender. In this day and age, when email, texting, and social media are often our first form of communication, it’s nice to know that a loved one has taken the time to craft something unique and thoughtful.

And when you send your valentines through the city of Loveland, you and your loved ones become part of a decades-long local tradition that helps draw attention to our community and our local businesses. Each year, over 100,000 people direct their valentines through the Loveland Re-Mailing Program. Dozens of volunteers gather to stamp each card sent through the program with a special Valentine’s Day verse and then forward the card to the intended recipient.

You can forward your own card through the program, or you can purchase the official Loveland Valentine’s Day card, with an official design from one of our own residents. Each year, a contest is held to determine the winning verse and design for that year’s cards. This year’s verse captures the tone of Loveland:

Touching your heart

In a special way

With a card from Loveland

On St. Valentine’s Day.

If you want to address a valentine from Loveland, often referred to as the Sweetheart City, in the coming years, simply send a pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope to the Loveland Re-Mailing Program, care of the postmaster. You’ll become a part of our local culture and a worldwide tradition; last year, the program sent out cards from all 50 states and 120 different countries.

At Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, we care about the community and this program, which draws attention to local shops and businesses. We provide quality heating, air conditioning, indoor air quality, and commercial HVAC services to Northern Colorado, and our company has served the community since 1934. Call us today for superb service from local technicians you can count on.

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How Maintenance Programs Benefit Homeowners

Heating and air conditioning systems slow down as time goes on and the parts become more and more worn. However, if your heating system is not at the end of its lifespan quite yet, this is often preventable. Scheduling maintenance every year for each of your systems can save you a lot of money and increase your home comfort. And enrolling in an HVAC maintenance program for twice yearly tune ups can save you even more, as it comes with the following benefits.

  • Lower Utilities – One of the top reasons homeowners sign up for a maintenance program is to save money over time. A maintenance visit involves cleaning and adjusting parts that were previously worn down, taking longer to heat or cool a home and running inefficiently as a result. Of course, maintenance comes with a price tag, but this may be offset by what you save on utilities and repairs.
  • Fewer Breakdowns – Another benefit of maintenance is that it reduces the risk of a sudden breakdown. When you neglect servicing your heating or AC system, all of the components can begin to suffer, and your unit could fail when you need it most.
  • Healthier Air – The air that you breathe everyday circulates through the duct system, but first it runs through a filter. However, there may still be dust and other allergens in the indoor blower unit of your heating and AC system that may affect the people in your home, especially those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. A technician will thoroughly clean your unit and inspect to make sure that the filter is properly maintained.
  • Safety – All heating/AC systems require electricity to run, so a technician will tighten electrical connections and make sure there are no electrical hazards. And when the technician inspects your gas heating unit, you can find out about any potential gas or carbon monoxide leaks so you can repair these as soon as possible.
  • Benefits – Many contractors offer additional benefits such as discounts on parts and services and priority service to preferred customers.

Don’t go with just any company for your annual maintenance. Choose a contractor that offers several additional benefits when you sign up for an annual plan. Contact us to sign up for our HVAC maintenance program in Loveland today!

With the Energy Savings Agreement at Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, you’ll get priority customer service, no overtime fees, and discounted repairs from a company that’s been in business since 1934.

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